Federal investigators cite Florida roofing contractor for willfully, repeatedly ignoring fall protection standards, propose $349K in fines

Federal investigators cite Florida roofing contractor for willfully, repeatedly ignoring fall protection standards, propose $349K in fines ORLANDO, FL – The U.S. Department of Labor has cited a Florida roofing company for willfully putting workers at risk of falling at residential construction sites. Investigators with the department’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration found that on Jan. 21, 2026, Orchids Builders LLC exposed workers to a 10-foot fall hazard when it failed to provide them with fall protection while they installed sheathing on a sloped roof at a Rockledge worksite. On March 10, 2026, OSHA investigators found the employer exposed a worker to a 9-foot fall hazard while installing metal hurricane clips at another Rockledge worksite. OSHA also found that Orchids Builders failed to prepare and maintain written fall protection training certificates for employees at both worksites, did not ensure workers had eye protection while using nail guns,...

Owner of Medford construction company sentenced to 18 months for tax crimes, making false statements to federal government

Owner of Medford construction company sentenced to 18 months for tax crimes, making false statements to federal government
Date of action:                       Dec. 10, 2024Type of action:                      SentencingEmployers:                            Mauricio Baiense, owner, Contract Framing Builders Inc.                                                     407R Mystic Ave. Suite 34B, Medford, MA 02155Allegations:                            In April 2024, Baiense pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government, seven counts of failure to collect and pay over taxes, one count of aiding and assisting in the preparation of a false tax return and one count of making false statements. When questioned under oath at a U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration hearing about a fatal workplace incident involving an employee of Contract Framing Builders that occurred in March 2021, Baiense made false statements to a federal investigator, claiming the deceased employee did not work for him.Resolution:                            Mauricio Baiense was sentenced in federal district court to 18 months in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. Baiense was also ordered to pay $2,824,577 in restitution to the U.S.                                          Quote:                                     “When employers make false statements to OSHA investigators to cover up unsafe practices, they leave employees exposed to workplace injuries and deaths,” said Acting Regional Administrator Jeffrey Erskine in Boston. “We are grateful to our staff, investigative partners and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Massachusetts, for the hard work they put in to ensure Mauricio Baiense will be held criminally accountable for his deceit.”Court:                                     U.S. District Court for the District of MassachusettsDocket Number:                    22-CR-10148                                                                                                                                                # # # Media Contact:James C. Lally, 617-565-2074, lally.james.c@dol.govRelease Number:  24-2566-BOS

Published at December 31, 2024 at 04:00AM
Read more at https://dol.gov

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